SCHOOLS will need to cast aside any "selfish" attitudes and look to the long-term future when considering the current schools review, the new headteacher at Baxter College has said.

David Seddon, who has been at the school for three weeks, said parents and teachers should consider the needs of "future generations" first.

Under options unveiled last week, one of three high schools could be closed and a host of middle and first schools merged under the once-in-a-generation education review aimed at tackling falling pupil numbers.

Mr Seddon said: "You cannot be selfish when it comes to education. The decision has to be made free from emotion to make the standard of schooling the number one priority.

"Parents will be concerned about what their child is going to experience but it has to go further than that."

He said he would not rule out the suggestion by Worcestershire County Council to close either his school, Wolverley High or King Charles I High and split pupils between the remaining two.

However he added the school, formerly Harry Cheshire High, would make "a good case" to stay open if one of the three institutions faced closure.

He said: "I have not seen the other two schools but I will say this is a wonderful site which could be used to a greater extent."

The school currently attracts less than half its full capacity of 1,200 with only 470 pupils enrolled for the current school year.

Mr Seddon said: "We need to consider the long-term effects of any decision to look at the wider, bigger view."

His King Charles I High School counterpart Alan Brooks said mergers were only one option and he stressed the review was a chance to "answer the needs" of Kidderminster pupils, especially post-16, to increase numbers.

And Mr Brooks said: "We also need schools that are built to deliver 21st century education."

King Charles has 975 pupils with a "theoretical capacity" of just over 1,000.

Mr Brooks added: "We have to say as a school we feel we're successful - the numbers demonstrate that - and we wouldn't want to lose that success.

"This is a base level from where we want to move on."

However, he admitted falling pupil numbers in the district needed to be addressed.

Wolverley High School headteacher Kevin O'Regan said his school was prepared to consider various options.

"The real issue is we have to think about the future and whether the needs of the area will be met best with two or three high schools," he said.

But Mr O'Regan questioned if it would be "desirable" for two big schools to further expand if Kidderminster grows.

He added Wolverley was virtually full with 740 pupils.

St Barnabas First School in Kidderminster - which may have to merge with Marlpool First School - discussed options with parents and governors at a meeting on Tuesday evening.